May 11, 1985
Bradford City
A wooden stand on the last day of the season, in four minutes
3,611
held · 61 days
56
died
0
named here
The main stand was wooden and had stood since 1908. Beneath the seats was rubbish that had accumulated for years - programmes, cigarette packets, a newspaper from 1968.
A dropped match or cigarette went through a gap in the boards. Four minutes later the whole stand was alight. The exits at the back were locked, as they routinely were.
Fifty-six were killed and two hundred and sixty-five hurt. The club had been promoted that day and the trophy had been presented before kick-off.
Television cameras were there for the celebration and recorded all of it, including a man walking out of the stand entirely on fire and being beaten out by a policeman.